Dr. Elfrieda H. (Freddy) Hiebert
@textproject.org
Literacy educator and researcher, CEO of TextProject, Inc. offering research-based, open access texts for emerging readers K-1 through high school.
EdWeek article on new research from TextProject: “What kind of text is best for beginning readers? It’s a question at the center of the 'science of reading” movement...' www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
How Should Teachers Select Books for Young Readers? (Hint: It's Not Just Decodability)
Three new studies offer clues about what makes texts easier and harder for young students to read on their own.
edweek.org
Two new studies suggest an important shift in thinking about beginning reading instruction. “Reading level” alone does not tell us enough about how difficult a text will be for students. The familiarity, frequency, and spelling patterns matter greatly. textproject.org/frankly-fred...
Beyond Reading "Level": How Small Differences in Vocabulary Demands Affect Reading Success
Two new studies suggest an important shift in thinking about beginning reading instruction. “Reading level” alone does not tell us enough about how difficult a text will be for students. The familiari...
textproject.org
Check out this sneak peek into the science of reading lab at TextProject - how can corpus linguistics help us pinpoint the multisyllabic words most worth teaching? www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0Rz...
Presenting Multisyllabic Strategies for Adolescent Readers
YouTube video by TextProject
youtube.com
I'll be presenting the distinguished scholar address for the Research in Research & Literacy Special Interest Group at AERA 2026 on Friday, 4/10. (Sarah M. Lupo is co-author) Read about one of the concepts in the research here: textproject.org/frankly-fred...
Knowing Word Parts Isn't the Same as Knowing Words
Morphology teaching frequently stops at the pieces — students drill prefixes and suffixes in isolation, fill in charts, match roots to definitions — without ever encountering those element in real texts. What learners also need is sustained engagement with texts where morphologically rich vocabulary appears in context. It's the combination — explicit guidance and meaningful reading — that lets students move from recognizing pieces to actually using the system.
textproject.org
Enter our March giveaway to win a copy of "The Diamond Explorer" or "How to Talk to Your Succulent." 1. Follow me here if you haven't already. 2. Comment below with which book you'd prefe 3. Tag a friend in the comments for an extra chance to win! Find out more at textproject.org/frankly-fred...
Join me this Saturday 10am-noon PST for a free webinar on the the new science of vocabulary! Leveraging AI-generated insights has the potential to enhance vocabulary acquisition across all grades and subjects, revolutionizing word learning in education. www.eventbrite.com/e/the-new-sc...
The New Science of Vocabulary: How AI Can Support Language Learning
A Read Washington Webinar with Dr. Elfrieda (Freddy) H. Hiebert, founder of TextProject
eventbrite.com
What does NAEP Proficiency actually represent? When aspirational benchmarks are misread as diagnostic norms, high expectations become public condemnation. textproject.org/frankly-fred...
When Aspirational Benchmarks Become Public Verdicts: Revisiting NAEP Proficiency
What does NAEP Proficiency actually represent? Is it intended to describe what is developmentally appropriate for most eighth graders, or does it represent a more ambitious target? Ambitious goals are...
textproject.org
The issue is not declining rigor in the complexity of school texts. The issue is compressed progression. Contemporary texts often begin at elevated levels and provide less systematic lexical expectations across grades. textproject.org/research/rea...
Flattening the Developmental Staircase: Lexical Complexity in Elementary Reading Texts Across Six Decades
This study examined how the lexical complexity of elementary reading textbooks has changed over six decades, finding that the issue is not declining rigor, but rather compressed progression.
textproject.org
Freddy's Favorites is back! To celebrate the return of our curated selection of read-aloud recommendations, head over to our latest post "Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary" and subscribe to the TextProject monthly newsletter: textproject.org/giveaway
Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary: Reviving Freddy's Favorites
At TextProject, we believe that literacy is the gateway to agency. But beyond the mechanics of reading lies the why: the stories that stay with us, the books that make us look at a common bird or a qu...
textproject.org
Even at the earliest stages, TextProject texts support knowledge acquisition as well as word recognition. Our resources, including those for beginning readers—BeginningReads and TopicReads-Primary— ensure students master decoding through meaningful content. textproject.org/frankly-fred...
Why Knowledge Matters from Day One
TextProject resources, including those for beginning reader help students master decoding through meaningful content.
textproject.org
For the latest issue of Literacy Today, I sat down with Lara Deloza to discuss how educators can move beyond "cherry-picked" word lists to focus on high-frequency, high-impact vocabulary—backed by decades of research and now enhanced by AI. #Edusky #EdTech #Literacy publuu.com/flip-book/24...
What a delight to talk about my life's work with the Melissa and Lori Love Literacy Podcast! We discuss the power of text sets, strategies for vocabulayr instruction, and more. #Edusky #literacy textproject.org/power-of-tex...
The Power of Text Sets: Freddy Talks with the Melissa & Lori Love Literacy Podcast
TextProject founder and CEO Dr Elfrieda (Freddy) Hieberts joins Melissa and Lori of the Melissa and Lori Love Literacy podcast to talk about her life's work: the importance of texts in reading instruc...
textproject.org
Enjoyed talking with Jake Downs, host of the Talking Literacy podcast, about automaticity, the core vocabulary, reading volume, and shifts in understanding of text complexity over the decades. textproject.org/automaticity...
Introducing WordRoots, targeted texts centering on root words to enhance students’ understanding of English word construction. WordRoots develops recognition of morphemes—meaningful word units often neglected in literacy instruction. textproject.org/teachers/voc... #EduSky #teachingreading
In addition to our free, research-based texts for K-12 students, TextProject.org offers a wealth of professional development resources and insights from the latest literacy research. All available for free download at textproject.org/teacher-educ... #eduSky #teachereducators #professionaldevelopment
How can teacher education programs best prepare teacher candidates for the crucial task of choosing appropriate classroom texts for reading instruction? TextProject.org's latest Reading Research Snapshot provides some important insights. #EduSky textproject.org/text-selecti...
“Making sure the books check every box”: Preservice teachers learning to select texts for reading instruction
How do preservice teachers learn what makes a text complex? This study evaluates how one can teacher educator program approaches classroom text selection.
textproject.org
DecodableReads™ are short, engaging stories that reinforce consistent, common vowel patterns and high-frequency words. Available for free as online flipbooks or downloadable story bundles on our website at textproject.org/decodablereads #EduSky #scienceofreading
The Common Core standards dramatically increased text complexity based on an incorrect assumption that texts had been getting easier. Read my case for aligning text complexity with research-based developmental progressions: #Edusky textproject.org/misunderstan...
How Misunderstandings of Text Complexity May Have Widened the Achievement Gap
Misconceptions about the complexity of classroom texts for beginning readers led teachers to de-emphasize independent reading practice.
textproject.org
Slides from Freddy's recent webinar presentation to the Illinois Reading Council are now available on the TextProject website. Thanks to everyone who attended. America’s teachers are amazing! textproject.org/library-page...
Applying the Science of Reading in Vocabulary to Build Comprehension and Engagement - TextProject
textproject.org
I'll be at The Center for Literacy & Learning's #PlainTalkNOLA 2025 this coming Thursday Feb. 13, presenting two sessions on "Decoding English: How Spelling and Meaning Shape Reading Success" and "The New Science of Vocabulary: AI Enhanced Approaches to Word Selection." See you there! www.mycll.org
While AI excels at organizing and presenting factual information, the art of crafting stories that resonate with young readers still requires human creativity, emotional intelligence, and lived experience. textproject.org/ai-story-pro...
The AI Story Problem: Why Stories for Children and Adolescents Still Need Human Writers - TextProject
While AI excels at organizing and presenting factual information, the art of crafting stories that resonate with young readers still requires human creativity, emotional intelligence, and lived experi...
textproject.org
If you’re impacted by the wildfires in Southern California, apply for the CTA Disaster Relief Fund. Or if you’re able to, consider donating to help. Click here: ctamemberbenefits.org/disaster
Vocabulary is not about memorizing lists, it's about learning connections between words. Learn how teachers can leverage AI-generated insights to enhance vocabulary acquisition in this free webinar with Dr. Elfrieda “Freddy” Hiebert, January 14, 2025 @ 3:30 pm EST. Info: textproject.org/register
Thought-provoking article from Natalie Wexler: Has the "Science of Reading" gone overboard on phonics? #EduSky nataliewexler.substack.com/p/has-the-sc...
Has the "Science of Reading" Gone Overboard on Phonics?
Some educators are spending too much time on phonics instruction in the early grades, experts warn.
nataliewexler.substack.com
Video is now available from my keynote for the Literacy Research Association Reading Hall of Fame Mentoring session on December 5! #EduSky www.youtube.com/watch?v=41Pj...
Terminology, Texts and Teachers in an AI World
YouTube video by TextProject
youtube.com
There's still time to sign up for this webinar! TextProject's own Dr. Elfrieda H. (Freddy) Hiebert joins Sonia Cabell and Sean Morissey to spotlight vocabulary as the unsung hero in reading success. #EduSky #knowledgematterscampaign us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
How are scaffolded texts different from the old Dick & Jane controlled vocabulary readers? Read how advances in language research and data analysis can be used to create texts that support automaticity while maintaining natural, engaging language. textproject.org/word-zones-s... #Edusky
The Science of Word Zones: How Big Data is Building Better Readers - TextProject
In my recent article “Unpacking automaticity: Scaffolded texts and comprehension,” I introduced Critical Word Zones as the foundation for scaffolded texts. When discussing this approach, educators oft...
textproject.org